A little local Legoland headed our way

Can't make it to Legoland, Calif.?

Well, Legoland -- or at least a taste of it -- is arriving in the Chicago area this summer.

The Legoland Discovery Centre is scheduled to open in Schaumburg's Streets of Woodfield in August.

The 30,000-square-foot attraction will feature a train-like dragon ride, adventure trail and play areas. It also will offer what the company is billing as a "4D cinema" presentation incorporating Lego-based special effects.

As typical for 3D, "the objects are right in front of you. It's unbelievable, even for adults," said spokeswoman Jill Schmidt. The fourth dimension is where viewers will feel climate changes, such as wind and rain, she said.

The center also will include replicas of famous Chicago buildings made of Lego bricks, currently under construction in Carlsbad, Calif. They include: Sears Tower, Lake Point Tower, Water Tower, John Hancock Center, the Chicago Theatre, the Chicago Cultural Center, Navy Pier, the Wrigley Building and Fourth Presbyterian Church. Apropo, a non-specific downtown construction site, is also being created.

The Schaumburg site -- the first in the United States -- is modeled after a similar Discovery Centre in Berlin. That attraction sees more than 500,000 visitors annually.

"We are confident that it will translate well to the U.S. because of the universal appeal of Legos," company official Adrian Jones said. "Chicago will be our showcase U.S. site."

Can't wait until summer to get your Lego fix?

Lego operates a store at 520 N. Michigan, offering a wide range of the company's products and a few fun sculptures as well.

--Andrew Herrmann